Rather than a full on ISP, I think I'd prefer to see municipal NSPs. The municipality should be concerned with passing packets within the municipality. When an

Rather than a full on ISP, I think I'd prefer to see municipal NSPs. The municipality should be concerned with passing packets within the municipality. When an end user needs packets routed outside the municipality, they engage with an ISP connected to the municipality's network. This ends up operating very similarly to the way CLECs have allowed 3rd party ISPs to provide DSL service. The end user has a modem that attached to the CLEC's ATM network, then a PPPoE connection transits the ATM network to the user's ISP. With a municipal NSP, you effectively acknowledge the municipal cable plant and switching fabric as a natural monopoly, while allowing competing ISPs to provide internet transit.